Google Chromecast was launched in the year 2013, and since then the product has seen many updates in it including the latest Google Chromecast Ultra in 2017. This product looks similar to the dongles, and they help us in bringing content from mobile or laptop onto a larger screen like Televisions. This process of projecting content onto the TV is known as Casting.

Here you have to use the mobile as the remote to play content. You will require some web or mobile apps for the handling and streaming purpose. The model releases in the year 2015 was a significant update to the design of the product and come along with dual-band for the WiFi.

Google Chromecast Ultra is the current model released in November 2016. The new model supports 4K HD video! And I guess that was the only remaining feature which was left to be added. Thus making your experience more impressive while using the Chromecast!

Comparing both Google Chromecast vs. Chromecast Ultra: the main difference is the picture quality. The regular Chromecast could project content upto 1080p quality, while the Ultra unit allows 4K HD data. This means you could watch your favorite shows and movies in 4K display quality.

There are many add-on benefits and features included in this new Chromecast release. It is also found that the unit comes at a good price compared to all the other 4K media streamer. Interested to know more about this unit? Keep reading!

Google Chromecast Ultra 4K Android TV Box

Initially, when the first generation Chromecast was released, it included only some apps. Then Google supported the development of the app, and it was released with the Google support. The app hits the market, and since then there was no looking back for this casting app.

The first Google Chromecast was available in the form of a dongle, and you could now enjoy streaming content. Mobile comes into the role as a remote so that you could easily navigate through options. Now you get to enjoy various contents on NetFlix, YouTube, and other stream providers. If you are too lazy to get these apps on your TV, then buy one Smart TV(most of them come with pre-installed apps), and simply connect the Chromecast!

The first thing that we need to admit here is that Google Chromecast Ultra 4K has no significant difference compared to the previous models. The functionality and the overall contents are same, but the newly added feature is the 4K HD support. This model is the update to the 2015 version of the Google Chromecast.

You will experience less loading time here, and also get one Chromecast Ultra Ethernet port for those who have wired internet connections. As said earlier you won’t find much difference between the Google Chromecast 2 and the units which came before. But here you could unlock the best resolution using this new Chromecast product.

We shall now list out some quick reasons for buying Google Chromecast Ultra, and they are as follows:

If you wish to run this system, you will only need some basic tools for this. The things needed along with the Google Chromecast 2 (aka Ultra) includes one HD support TV with one spare HDMI port, the Internet, and finally, one mobile or PC through which you will cast content.

Also here the USB port will also do the job for the connection instead of the HDMI port.

For those you love to watch content on a larger display, this will do wonders for you.

This includes a lot of data which needs to be explored.

They offer smooth streaming of content, and with less buffering.

We can say that the product is complex internally, but the setup procedure is found to be easy here.

So these are some of the relevant, and quick points which make the product worth buying. And people who love watching content on larger displays like me, then they must consider in getting this Google Utility.

Do you wish to enjoy your favorite TV content and shows on larger display screens? Then you must consider buying one for your home entertainment. Chromecast 2 product is small in size and offers you with 4K support here. The product is liked by all for the quality performance shown by the product.

You may have across many streaming devices with the different price range. But this unit is different compared to all since here you get the chance to enjoy 4K content at a decent and deserving price.

So, all set to buy Google Chromecast Ultra? Then it is important for you to understand the system completely. For simple understanding, we will list out the basic headings and explain in detail about each part.

Google Chromecast Ultra Setup

We always check out for the unit which has got less with the installation. Isn’t it?

So yes, considering the SETUP point, Google Chromecast Ultra is user-friendly regarding this. The Chromecast 2 model has got a puck-shape which was similar to the previous Chromecast model. This is a small circular model which has got a short HDMI cable and comes with a magnetic attachment.

This model is bit large compared to the previous ones since this includes new technologies. But the unit is still portable, and small enough for handling purpose. You can place the product in your bag, and just easily carry with you anywhere you go.

You will find minimal ports on this Google Chromecast Ultra unit. They are HDMI socket, one micro-USB port, and one Reset button. The Power Cord included in this unit is not the same this time. They have included Ethernet port for this, and this proves to be the best choice for 4K streaming.

There is no way possible for getting the unit charged using the USB port of your TV. You need to plug the product into the wall socket for the charging purpose.

Setting up is just the same as found in other Chromecast models. You will need to install Google Home app on your phone. Then make the necessary connections related to the Google Chromecast Ultra product. After all the units are connected to other, the app will try to detect the system here.

Next, you need to connect the new Google Chromecast 2 (aka Ultra) with the Home Network. This home network could be your WiFi connection or the Network access at your place. At this point, you will sign to your Google account. There you go! You are all set to cast content on your Television using any app on your mobile phone.

The charging method found in this Google Chromecast Ultra is done using the wall socket only. Here you cannot do the charging work by directly plugging into the TV set, as present in the previous models. The device is different, but the Google Home app has been changed to a lot of extents.

For connecting your mobile device to the respective HD TV, you have to just tap on one icon displayed on the Top Right side. And then you need to follow the basic steps for setting up the complete Google Chromecast Ultra.

Here the 4K Streaming is obtained by doing the hardwiring of the product with the internet modem using the Ethernet cable. This Ethernet port is available on the Power Adaptor of the Chromecast Ultra. If you wish to have a 4K streaming experience, then you must have a recommended speed of 25Mbps and more.

This point is what rules out in many cases; good network speed will give the right output. And if one wishes to enjoy 4K content, network speed becomes the crucial decision maker here. You can try out the WiFi method, but the hardwiring will still be the best choice for you.

So this is the procedure which has to be followed for setting the Google Chromecast 2.

Chromecast Ultra Specs & Design

There are mainly four models released for the Chromecast system. I didn’t find the design much attractive for first Chromecast model. The 2nd model surprised me with this disc like shape and came with a short HDMI cable.

The third model of Google Chromecast Ultra has got an addition of the audio settings with the 2nd generation unit. In this, you will find audio streaming applications. Therefore we can say that this unit is using the 2nd generation base only. You will find the audio feature and the one audio jack setting which helped in connecting this to speakers and other audio systems.

Starting with the outer appearance:

Talking about the Google Chromecast Ultra product, this product has got a similar design as the 2nd generation unit. The shape is found to be circular one only, and the logo found here is “G” instead of the Chrome symbol. G stands for the Google name, who is the real owners behind this awesome product.

The design is similar, but it comes with an upgraded hardware which supports 4K streaming on it. The size of the Google Chromecast Ultra is found to be larger compared to the 2nd Generation units. Here the size is not much an issue compared to the power.

The adaptor which comes along with this is large, but the cord length found is considerably short. The length of the cord is found to be 5.5 feet in length. If you have got the HDMI ports on the opposite side of the nearest power supply at your home, I feel sorry for you.

Check the connectors provided here:

This new model Google Chromecast Ultra has got a compatibility of 802.11ac. The frequencies which can be used here are 2.4GHz as well as 5GHz. We recommend using the 5GHz since it is required for the 4K streaming of the content. Still, I strongly recommend for using one Ethernet cable for working.

This adaptor which we were talking about in the previous section, comes with a slot for the Ethernet cable. You will require pretty good network speed, for accessing 4K content on Chromecast Ultra.

Google claims that the hardware upgrades in this new unit will make it work 1.8 times faster for the loading purpose. We didn’t feel much difference on this Google Chromecast Ultra while loading HD content. Though there was only some seconds difference with the initiating process.

Working Highlights:

The main Highlight of the product is indeed the 4K HD Streaming. But this product also provides the HDR support in it. For running the unit, and casting it on the TV, you will need one certified Ultra HD support TV for this. Once you have got all the required systems, you are all set to enjoy 4K Streaming content at home!

Here the smaller Chromecast unit was capable of getting power from the TV’s USB port. But this is not possible with the Google Chromecast Ultra. For charging purpose, you will need to plug the system on to the wall socket.

The HDR support of the system is like an icing on the HD feature. Because of the HDR support, you could enjoy content with a brighter contrast on your TV screen. This definitely will give you the best experience of watching your favorite movie or shows.

So this was all about the design of the Google Chromecast Ultra product, and now the next topic on the list is the Features of this product.

Features of Google Chromecast 2:

The first two concepts which we discussed were the Setup and the Design. Now it is time to brief out some of the key features of the Google Chromecast Ultra which make it a worth buy for you.

Talking about Features, this is the foremost section which people check out before buying almost anything!

4K HD Streaming is the main highlight indeed, but this small buddy comes along with many features in it. Now before listing out the features, one main thing to be cleared. And that is, working on the Google Chromecast Ultra will give you almost the same feel as you experienced with their previous models.

But with the right kind of network speed, this would turn out to be great for you. Now let’s check out the features of this Google Chromecast Ultra unit. And they are as follows:

You will require one app to be installed on your mobile, for performing the casting operation using this.

After the installation, the apps which will compatible with the casting operation will be listed in the app.

There are a lot of app choices that you may get here, and some of them include Netflix, HBO Go, YouTube, NBC Sports, and much more.

The main control of the Google Chromecast Ultra is your smartphone. This makes the handling easy since you only have to work on your phone.

Get the content displayed with the less buffering issue in this.

You could get quick responses using this Google Chromecast Ultra if connected on a good network.

Experience the best 4K Streaming service on this unit.

You will find 4K contents more on Netflix, compared to the YouTube. This is because 4K nature scenes and other slow motion stunts are better displayed on the Netflix. 4K HDR content is available on YouTube as well, but for watching via Chromecast, Netflix will be a better option.

There are many contents available as the BBC iPlayer Now TV, All 4, and others which are available on the Google Chromecast Ultra. These contents wouldn’t be present in the 4K display quality.

Main controlling of the unit is using the smartphone, which makes the task easy for you.

Other feature includes that as long as you are connected to the same network, you will get the Cast icon for the compatible apps with the Google Chromecast Ultra product.

So these are some of the key features which are present with the Google Chromecast. Now we will head to the next topic.

Chromecast Ultra Performance:

To begin this section, we have to say that this Google Chromecast Ultra product includes high power processor. This is because of the output needed by the unit, which has got the 4K streaming ability. This Chromecast Ultra has got the feature to project the video with HD or 4K quality compared to other systems.

Some people say the producers are boasting about the feature. In reality, the product can do wonders if provided with the right tools, and network connection. Only a few apps took more than 5 seconds for the opening. And many HD contents like the Crackle TV were played within 1 or 2 seconds.

The complete credits go to the Google Chromecast Ultra for the quality of the content. For good display, it matters a lot on the brand of the TV used. I made use of LG OLED TV for casting the content via the unit. The color of the actors was amazingly shown on this system.

Internet dependent product, still if you are got some strong connection then you will enjoy on the Google Chromecast Ultra. The next feature which you are aware of is about the remote control. You have to make use of your smartphone as the remote.

We checked on the Performance factor and ran the YouTube app on the system. We need to search a lot for getting the high quality here, as we have mentioned before. This all the quality contents are displayed on the right, and quality way.

Colors like the blue and the orange stood out the most different, and best out of all the color options. The pixels presented here, could not be easily discerned by anyone. It won’t be recognized when you are standing at a distance of 2 foot from the Television screen.

I also checked some of the YouTube videos, and as mentioned earlier they are not less clear. This is because YouTube has got less content with the 4K streaming quality. And if you wish to watch the video on Google Chromecast Ultra, then I would suggest you check out some other apps. This will give you with the content you are searching in more quality display.

Using the 4K streaming, you will be able to enjoy minute details in clear picture. Even the person’s sweat, the color of the objects, feeling content as live are some of the experiences I had while watched content on the 4K dimension. The product could perform in its best way if the right amount network is provided.

This is not the real scenario, though, because even when you are running the Google Chromecast Ultra at a moderate network, you can make use of many features.

Till now we have got less source which offers 4K content. Therefore, the strong network will help you in watching only limited content, though. Still, we can hope for a more 4K content provider in the coming time. This will make accessing 4K streaming worthy on the Chromecast product.

Here we are concluding the Performance section for you. Hope you got a clear idea of the working style of the product.

Time to check out the PROS and CONS of Google Chromecast Ultra 4K:

Pros

The feature of the 4K works best with a strong WiFi connection

Process of installation is found to be easy for the product

This system is low-priced in terms of the 4K streaming feature

It supports 4K content available on YouTube videos

Cons

It does not include remote control, since phones are used for operating

No support of Amazon video

Limited options present in the 4K contents initially

Amazon Fire TV Stick vs Chromecast Ultra 4K:

The main competitor of the Google Chromecast Ultra is the Amazon Fire TV Stick. We will compare some of the key points of both the systems. Also, check out the reason why both of them are doing well on their part.

Just before when the 3rd generation Chromecast was released, the 4K feature was introduced on the Amazon product. Comparing the prices of both the systems, Fire TV Stick is undoubtedly costly. Still, there are more and better features present on this streaming media player.

Other difference found here is that Amazon Fire TV Stick comes with a remote control here. While the Google Chromecast Ultra 4K operates using the smartphone. This brings the drawback that your phone has to be in continuous use while using the product. You cannot use the phone for calling or receiving calls too.

Google Chromecast does not support running Amazon Videos on it.

There is one another streaming player in town, and that is Roku. Recently the Premiere+ version of this was released. At a cost price of $100, you could enjoy 4K content on this system. It supports Amazon Video too. This product also includes Ethernet cable port and one micro SD slot here.

Other platforms which remain a big competition for the Google Chromecast Ultra 4K product are the Smart TVs. These Smart TVs offer almost all major 4K streaming apps for you. So they remain a big competition for all the units Chromecast, Fire TV Stick, Roku player, etc. We may compare it with Nvidia Shield TV as it is also good 4K streaming Player (Android TV Box)

So these are some of the points which can be included in the Comparison section.

Chromecast vs Chromecast Ultra

Chromecast Ultra is the upgraded version of Chromecast. And if you ask which one is better, then it is undoubtedly the Ultra version since they come with many bugs removed. Here we will provide you with some of the major reasons which prove that Ultra is better than the regular Chromecast.

Some of the features included in the Chromecast Ultra, which is absent in the official Chromecast are given as below:

The next point is that Chromecast Ultra supports HDR content, whereas the Chromecast does not. If you have got 4K support, then you should better get one Ultra unit instead of the usual Chromecast.

Next important addition found here is the Ethernet Adapter in the Chromecast Ultra. In this way, you could simply get the network connection set by just plugging the Ethernet cable into the port provided. Whereas the regular Chromecast does not include this port.

Fast processing is found in the Chromecast Ultra. Here the difference in the speed is not much significant in nature. The loading time can be called as ultra fast whereas the standard system has got fast load times. The difference is minimal only, yet there is some difference present.

So these are some of the significant upgrades found in the Chromecast Ultra when compared with the normal Chromecast.

Now the next obvious question of your will be that upgrade is necessary or not?

In my opinion, if you have got one 4K support HD TV, then go for the Ultra choice. Otherwise, there is no need to buy this Chromecast Ultra. This is because the normal Chromecast is doing all good with its inbuilt features.

So, Chromecast Ultra is better, undoubtedly! But you have to make a choice depending on the TV system you have got.

What is Chromecast Ultra?

Chromecast Ultra is the 3rd generation media streamer produced by Google. You can stream upto 4K HD quality using this product. It supports HDR content too if equipped with strong WiFi network. This system needs to be connected to the TV HDMI port.

The product strives to provide a reliable output, and also a quick one compared to other streaming products. You will find smoother streaming method on the Google Chromecast Ultra. Most of the time, People get confused between Chromecast and What is Android TV Box.

Another major benefit of using this system is that you will experience less buffering while streaming. You can make use of iPhone, Android as well as iPad for casting purpose. All the phones are compatible with the Chromecast setup.

The only requirement regarding the phone is that you will require one Google Home app running on it. And you will get the Cast-enabled apps on the TV screen.

Working on the app is easy. You need one Google Home app. Run the app, select the video which you want to cast. Do all the necessary network settings and pair the Google Chromecast Ultra with your mobile. After you select the video, you will find one Casting icon on the Top portion. Tap on this icon. By doing so, you will find the show or movie running on your Television screen.

The most key feature which people look out for is the Ultra HD content and the HDR support it offers. This allows the users to enjoy the clear picture, with the right amount of color, smoother video while casting the movie onto the television screen.

We have got only a few 4K enabled apps here, and there include Netflix, YouTube. Also, YouTube only offers a limited amount of content. Other than this you could get access to million songs, games, radio, news, weather updates and much more.

Finally, about the size, this product is small in size, making it compact and portable. But it is great concerning performance and efficiency.

My Verdict for Google Chromecast Ultra 4k

There was a constant confusion with buying this Google Chromecast Ultra. But in our opinion, this is a good deal to go with. The first Chromecast model was made available at a price within $40. Now the latest Ultra model has got a price value double the parent model.

This may seem like an unnecessary price hike, but you have to note about the system specifications here. You will get the chance to access 4K content on your Television screen. Not only this, the product comes with HDR support in it. Also to mention, there are many HDR TVs who have got virtually inbuilt apps like YouTube and Netflix.

Currently, this Google Chromecast Ultra is the only device which has got the support for playing YouTube HDR videos. We will answer some of the common questions that users ask related to the Chromecast Ultra.

Why do I need to pay more for Google Chromecast Ultra?

You could easily cast videos from your mobile on to the screen of Ultra. Playing the video from one device to another, and there you go! You could now stream better on this unit, compared to the Apple’s product AirPlay. You just need to be set with a compatible phone and a strong WiFi connection.

What are the alternatives to get the similar benefits?

With the advancements in technology, you could now get a Smart TV which is pre-loaded with your favorite apps. You could also try other third-party systems like the Roku Streaming. Now we can get the latest version of Roku, which is named as Roku Premiere+. One of the key features of this is the digital audio output and comes with a remote control.

Is the product reliable in nature?

Yes definitely, this unit is reliable. If you have got a strong WiFi connection, and the needed HD TV with you then you can rest assured with the working of the Google Chromecast Ultra 4K. This system is set to expand it features, if you have got the Ultra HD support TV for casting purpose.

Hope you guys enjoyed this article on Google Chromecast Ultra Review 4K Streaming Android TV Box, and it solved your queries related to the product. If you have got any question related to the product, ask them out in the comment section below or visit us at Best Android TV Box.

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